Abstract: A system for at least one of homogenization and lysis of a sample includes one or more walls forming an enclosed chamber having an inlet and a plurality of fluidic connections. A first fluidic network is coupled to at least one of the plurality of fluidic connections and a second fluidic network is coupled to at least one of the plurality of fluidic connections. The system further includes a rotary element within the chamber, and an actuator configured to rotate the rotary element. The first fluidic network is configured to introduce at least a sample into the chamber from at least one first reservoir. The second fluidic network is configured to expel at least the sample from the chamber to at least one second reservoir. The rotary element is rotated by the actuator about an axis extending along a length of the rotary element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel device (10) for separating composite materials, comprising a cylindrical rotor (17), which has a shaft driven by a motor and strip-shaped first impacting tools (30), which are evenly distributed over the circumference and which protrude from the rotor parallel to the shaft, and comprising a cylindrical stator (12) that surrounds the rotor, wherein an annular space (32) is formed between the rotor and the stator. An air supply channel (15) opens into the upper region of the annular space (32) and an air removal channel (38) leads away from the lower region of the annular space. Furthermore, the cylindrical wall of the stator (12) has strip-shaped second impacting tools (31), which are evenly distributed over the circumference and which protrude radially inward.

Abstract: A system and method for separating polymer components of a multi-component article, such as a shoe, is presented. The described system and method exploits the differences in embrittlement and glass transition temperature of different polymer components of the multi-component article by cryogenically freezing the prepared article and impacting the article such that one polymer component is pulverized without substantially fracturing the remaining portion of the article. The system and method further includes a re-looping capability to maximize separation and recovery of polymer components.

Abstract: A method for reusing material by pulsed power, according to which a series of electrical discharges are generated between at least two electrodes in a reactor receiving an ambient liquid as well as the materials to be reused. The series of said electrical discharges produce, as a result of the energy, the frequency of the electrical discharges, the voltage between the electrodes and the switching time, a mechanical shockwave which propagates over the materials to be processed in the reactor. The ambient liquid is cooled by a continuous or carousel cooling system, to enable the production of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method and device for reusing materials and/or products by pulsed power according to which a series of electrical discharges are generated between at least two electrodes in a reactor containing an ambient liquid as well as the materials and/or products to be reused. The energy of the electric discharges, the voltage between the electrodes, the switching time and the frequency of the discharges are selected such that said discharges generate electric arcs that pass through the materials and/or products to be reused, and mechanical shock waves that propagate across the materials and/or products to be treated in the reactor. The result is fragmentation, pulverisation, dispersion and separation of the elements that make up the materials and/or products to be reused.

Abstract: A method comprises accessing a vibratory device having a rotor and first and second eccentric weights. The first weight is initially attached to the rotor's shaft in a manner such that its center of the mass is offset from the shaft in a first radial direction. The second weight is initially attached to the shaft in a manner such that its center of the mass is also offset in the first radial direction. The method further comprises reorienting the first and second weights relative to the shaft in a manner such that their centers of the mass are offset in a second radial direction. By performing these steps, the location of greatest bearing surface wear rate on the shaft is circumferentially relocated about the shaft. As such, the service life of an eccentric weight vibratory device is thereby extended.

Abstract: A reactor comprising at least one contact surface made from, coated with, or impregnated by a catalyst, wherein the contact surface comprises a sintered metal or a ceramic, and wherein the reactor is configured to subject a reactant stream to shear. A system for carrying out a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction, the system comprising a reactor as described above and a pump configured for delivering reactants to the at least one reactor. A method for carrying out a heterogeneously-catalyzed reaction by introducing reactants into a reactor comprising at least one contact surface made from, coated with, or impregnated by a catalyst under conditions which promote production of a desired product, wherein the contact surface comprises a sintered metal or a ceramic, and forming a dispersion of reactants within the reactor, wherein the dispersion comprises droplets or gas bubbles of reactant with an average diameter of less than about 5 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a particulate material comprising; providing mineral wool base material in a form having size at least 80% not more than 40 mm, subjecting the mineral wool base material to sintering by use of a pulse combustor and thereby forming a particulate material in the form of particles having size at least 80% not more than 20 mm. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises means for size reduction of coherent mineral wool substrate and a reaction chamber in communication with a pulse combustor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a chemically pure and stably dispersed organic nanoparticle colloidal suspension using an ultrafast pulsed laser ablation process. The method comprises irradiating a target of an organic compound material in contact with a poor solvent with ultrashort laser pulses at a high repetition rate and collecting the nanoparticles of the organic compound produced. The method may be implemented with a high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser source, an optical system for focusing and moving the pulsed laser beam, an organic compound target in contact with a poor solvent, and a solvent circulating system to cool the laser focal volume and collect the produced nanoparticle products. By controlling various laser parameters, and with optional poor solvent flow movement, the method provides stable colloids of dispersed organic nanoparticles in the poor solvent in the absence of any stabilizing agents.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for the micronisation of a powdered material (P) containing particles, comprising: a container (11), containing a reserve of the powdered product (P) to be micronised; a high-energy gaseous spiral fluid-jet micronising mill (12) with which powdered product (P) is micronised; and a feed system (13) to feed powdered product (P) from container (11) to the spiral jet mill (12), wherein feed system (13) comprises a special microdispenser device (20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29) that micrometrically dispenses and directly feeds the powdered material (P), in a dense state, to the spiral jet mill (12), and wherein said microdispenser device (20) comprises one or more dispensing sections (21) which are cyclically filled with material originating from container (11) and then emptied to feed the material to the spiral jet mill (12), opening and closing at high frequency a plurality of control valves (26, 27, 28 and 29) associated with the dispensing sections (21) of the microdispenser device (20).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of fragmenting and/or weakening of material by means of high voltage discharges. The material is together with a process liquid introduced into a process area, in which two electrodes face each other at a distance, and is arranged therein in such a manner that the area between the two electrodes is filled with material and process liquid. Between the two electrodes high voltage discharges are generated for fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material. According to the invention, during the fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material, process liquid is discharged from the process area and process liquid is fed into the process area. The process liquid which is fed has a lower electrical conductivity than the process liquid which is discharged.

Abstract: A method for dispersing a filler having high agglomerating properties in a resin and a micro-dispersing mixer used in the method are provided. Further, a method for producing a sealing material that can avoid a defect caused by agglomerates of a filler (for example, carbon black) in an electronic material such as a semiconductor package, a masterbatch resin produced by the method, and a micro-dispersing mixer used in the method are provided. When a filler is dispersed in a molten resin composition to produce a filler-dispersed molten resin composition, a resin composition containing filler aggregates and a molten resin composition is preliminarily mixed by a mixing means, and, thereafter, the preliminarily mixed mixture is allowed to pass through the micro-dispersing mixer with a fine flow path to disperse the filler in a filler resin composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a combustion process using comminuted fuel solids from a steam-driven shear field, with controlled water content and optionally coated with a combustion catalyst. The method allows fuel solids to burn for energy production at low temperatures. The lower temperatures avoid emissions of nitrogen oxides, and the process also yields a clean, friable ash that has economic value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a fuel preparation system. The feedstock preparation system includes an acoustic chamber configured to receive a fuel and at least one acoustic wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves to at least partially break up the fuel in the acoustic chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for disintegrating a recyclable item in a material-selective manner and using the electrohydraulic effect, an electric discharge being generated, in a container filled with a liquid, using a pulsed current source and within an underwater spark gab between a container base-side electrode and at least one container cover-side electrode that points towards the first electrode, with electric discharge having an average field strength of less than or equal to 5 kV/mm and a pulse or discharge energy of greater than 10 J, and being generated at least substantially in the liquid. In the container, the recyclable item lies partially in the underwater spark gab on the container base-side.

Abstract: Described and claimed herein is a method of producing enhanced combustion ash for use in pozzolanic applications or cement clinker manufacture. The method employs a primary process in which wet or dry feedstock is pulverized with sonication using one or more grinding media having a maximum component size of about 2 mm. Alternatively, the media may have a true grinding medium volume to chamber volume ratio of at least 0.29. Also disclosed an claimed is an enhanced combustion ash produced by the method, whereby the enhanced combustion ash has one or more qualities that make it particularly suitable in pozzolanic applications or cement clinker manufacture.

Abstract: A method of reducing the size of material, such as rocks of mined ore, is disclosed. The method comprises comminuting and electro-fracturing rocks of the material and thereby reducing the rock size.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for breaking mineral particles comprising suspending the particles in a liquid flowing in a conduction path, the liquid comprising a dielectric constant higher than the particles and wherein an electric voltage pulse is sent to electrodes to pass an electric field in the mineral particles with sufficient stress to fracture the mineral particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reusing materials and/or products according to which, in a first step, a series of electrical discharges are generated between at least two electrodes in a reactor containing an ambient liquid as well as the materials and/or products to be reused, in which the series of said electric discharges produces, due to the energy, the frequency of the electric discharges as well as the voltage between the electrodes and the switching time, a mechanical shock wave which propagates across the materials and/or products to be treated in the reactor, characterized in that after a first step of embrittlement by the mechanical shock wave thus produced, the products and/or materials are exposed to a series of electric discharges in which the energy, the voltage between the electrodes that generate said discharges, the switching time and the frequency of the discharges are selected so that said discharges perform selective fragmentation of the material by the effect of an electromagnetic

Abstract: The invention provides a process that comminutes fuel solids in a steam-driven shear field, with controlled water content and optionally a catalyst, with gasification of the free-standing or slurry particulate outputs. Unlike conventional gasification methods the invention requires no dioxygen to be present, and produces dry friable ash that has significant marketable value as a material in its own right.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming solid particles from a sample, which includes the step of exposing the sample to a focused acoustic field having an acoustic wave variable, until the solid particles achieve a desired state of particularization. The acoustic wave variable may be selected based, at least in part, on the desired state of particularization. The sample may be exposed to the focused acoustic field through a medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanostructured material capable of storing hydrogen. The nanostructured material may be configured with a selected geometry to provide the capability to influence and increase the limiting or theoretical gravimetric storage level (GSL) of hydrogen for a given chemical composition.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of breaking down biological material is provided. The method may include providing a sample comprising the biological material in a liquid. The method may further include providing a gas such that the gas forms an interface with the liquid. The method may also include breaking down the biological material by applying acoustic waves in a plurality of sequential bursts to the interface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for an electrodynamic fragmentation plant having a passage opening (1) for fragmentation material (3) and having several electrode pairs (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) by means of which, by charging the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) thereof with high-voltage pulses, in each case high-voltage discharges can be generated within the passage opening (1), for fragmentation of the fragmentation material (3). The passage opening (1) is formed in such a way and the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) of the electrode pairs are arranged therein in such a way that for each electrode pair (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) in the area of a shortest connecting line (L) between the electrodes of the respective electrode pair, a ball (K) can pass through the passage opening (1), the diameter of which is bigger than the length of this respective shortest connecting line (L).

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing hydroxyalkylcellulose microparticles, the method including generating a pulse shock wave, and supplying a hydroxyalkylcellulose aqueous solution to the pulse shock wave generation region, thereby crushing and drying the hydroxyalkylcellulose aqueous solution. According to the production method, hydroxyalkylcellulose microparticles having a volume-average particle size of at least 0.1 ?m but less than 15 ?m are obtained. By mixing the hydroxyalkylcellulose microparticles with a principal agent and subjecting the resulting mixture to a tablet compression, a solid preparation having excellent tensile strength and disintegration properties can be obtained.

Abstract: A system and process for separating plastic material from aggregate material. The system and process may utilize airflow through a venturi to dry the plastic and aggregate materials. The plastic particles may then be electrically charged and collected by a grounded drum. In some instances, the separated plastic may then be further processed, for example to produce energy sources.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for breaking up ore. The methods and devices are characterised in particular in that ore mineral or ore minerals can be subsequently easily extracted. For this purpose coherent NIR radiation, non-coherent NIR radiation, at least one electric alternating field having a frequency greater than 300 GHz, at least one magnetic alternating field having a frequency greater than 300 GHz, at least one electromagnetic alternating field having a frequency greater than 300 GHz, or a combination thereof are respectively applied to the ore at least once by means of a device for generating the radiation, the at least one alternating field, or the radiation and the at least one alternating field, wherein ore mineral, ore minerals, absorbent components, or ore minerals and absorbent components of the ore absorb(s) energy from the radiation, the alternating field, or the radiation and the alternating field and said energy is not or is only slightly absorbed by the lode matter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for breaking down biological material, especially for obtaining biomolecules by ultrasound, the biological material being arranged, in a container together with a liquid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a fuel preparation system. The feedstock preparation system includes an acoustic chamber configured to receive a fuel and at least one acoustic wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves to at least partially break up the fuel in the acoustic chamber.

Abstract: A pneumatic continuous impact pulverizer includes an outer tube, an inner tube located in the outer tube, an air intake material feeding port located at a front end of the outer tube, an air pump located at the air intake material feeding port, and a plurality of impact tubes. The impact tubes respectively run through the tubular wall of the inner tube, and each has an airflow passage which includes a bell-shaped opening communicating with the outer tube, a middle branch opening located at one side of the airflow passage close to the air intake material feeding port and communicating with the inner tube, and an outlet communicating with the inner tube. High pressure gas and powders enter through the air intake material feeding port. The high pressure gas carries the powders to pass through the impact tubes where the powders collide with each other to become nano powders.

Abstract: A method of forming nanometer sized fine particles of functional ceramic from a bulk functional ceramic, particularly fine particles of phosphorous ceramics from a bulk phosphor material is disclosed. The method relies on irradiation of a bulk phosphorous ceramic in a liquid with an ultrashort-pulsed-laser-fragmentation beam to thereby form nanometer sized particles of the phosphorous ceramic. The method is unique in that the generated particles retain the chemical and crystalline properties of the bulk phosphorous ceramic. The generated solutions are stable colloids from which the particles can be isolated or used as is.

Abstract: The invention solves the problem of obtainment of binding agent for mass of shape constriction elements, consisting of the fact, that preferably calcium sulfate, preferably calcium oxide, preferably zinc oxide, are initially mixed in mechanical mixer, and after thorough mixing, the obtained dry mass shall be subjected to the effects of ultrasonic stationary wave. The binding agent for mass for production of shaped construction elements, in accordance with the invention, consists of 65-86% of weight, preferably of calcium sulfate, 15-35% of weight, preferably of calcium oxide and 0.1-0.7% of weight, preferably of zinc oxide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a submicron polymer powder from solid polymer bodies or coarse particles, preferably of polytetrafluoroethylene powder, wherein powder is ground into fibrous particles in the first stage and is disintegrated into submicron particles by aerodynamic treatment in the second stage, where a gas-particle mixture is subject to the effect of centrifugal forces and suction forces acting in the direction opposite to the centrifugal forces, a pulsating sign-alternating temperature field generated by a pulsed supply of liquid nitrogen, turbulent forces of vortexes, and aerodynamic forces that cause alternating compression and expansion of the gas-particle mixture.

Abstract: Methods and devices for dispersion of clusters of somatic plant embryos suspended in a liquid are disclosed. The methods comprise i) subjecting the clusters of embryos to fluid dynamics forces causing axially extensional strain and radially compressional strain and ii) subjecting the clusters of embryos to fluid dynamics forces causing axially compressional strain and radially extensional strain fluid dynamics and iii) repeating said steps in sequence until the individual embryos are separated from each other. The devices may comprise a flow channel including at least one constriction, such that clusters of embryos flowing through the flow channel are first subjected to axially extensional strain and radially compressional strain, and then to axially compressional strain and radially extensional strain from fluid dynamics forces.

Abstract: A system and process for separating eggshell membranes from eggshells. The system and process may utilize airflow through a venturi to pulverize the eggshell and thereby separate the eggshell from the membrane. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the process may also extract moisture from the membrane and eggshell. The system may further be configured to collect the pulverized eggshell particles separately from the membrane material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for comminution of ore material includes a radio frequency multi-input, multimode processing resonant cavity arranged for radio frequency electromagnetic irradiation of a stream of ore material passing therethrough. A multi-input measurement resonant cavity, located upstream of the processing resonant cavity may be provided to determine an impedance of ore material to be irradiated in the processing resonant cavity. The radio frequency electrical field generated in the processing resonant cavity is matched to the determined impedance.

Abstract: A method for processing unseparated egg shells includes placing unseparated egg shells in a separation tank containing fluid, applying cavitation to the unseparated egg shells in the fluid to thereby separate the egg shell membranes from the egg shells, and recovering the egg shell membranes. An apparatus for processing unseparated egg shells includes a separation tank for holding a fluid, a recirculating loop operatively connected to the separation tank, and at least one submersible mixer in the recirculating loop to recirculate the fluid and egg shell membranes and egg shells within the fluid. The apparatus further includes a membrane collection conveyor for conveying egg shell membranes from the separation tank and a shell conveyor positioned beneath the separation tank for conveying egg shells away from the separation tank.

Abstract: A microparticle dispersion liquid manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a controller 11, a light source 12, an irradiation optical system 13, and a container 14. A solid object 1 is contained in and a solvent 2 is injected into an interior of the container 14 to enable attainment of a state where the solid object 1 is in contact with the solvent 2. The light source 12 repeatedly outputs pulsed light. By repeatedly irradiating the solvent 2 with the pulsed light from the light source 12, expansion and contraction of the solvent 2 is made to occur repeatedly at the irradiated portion, thereby generating a pressure wave in the solvent 2, and the pressure wave is made to act on the solid object 1 to finely pulverize the solid object 1 and thereby manufacture a microparticle dispersion liquid in which microparticles are dispersed in the solvent.

Abstract: A recycling method of slurry for use in wafer polishing for reusing slurry used in a polishing process of semiconductor wafer, comprises the steps of: adding a dispersant to a recovered used-slurry to inhibit aggregation of the slurry; breaking up aggregates in such a manner that the whole of the used slurry, subjected to the dispersant addition step, is passed through a shearing force imparting device to impart shearing force to the aggregates contained in the slurry by the shearing force imparting device, thereby breaking up the aggregates; and removing foreign substances in the slurry subjected to the aggregate breakup step, by means of a foreign substances removing device. According to the method, a large amount of used-slurry can be processed in a short time.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging.

Abstract: A milling apparatus in which at least two independently driven axiaily mounted elements are eccentrically mounted one within the other so as to define a processing chamber (12) therebetween with the minimum radial gap between the elements at one position being diametrically opposite to the maximum radial gap. Stresses are applied to the material by passing it through the minimum radial gap, which is adjustable. The elements may be rotated in the same direction to apply compressive and extensional stresses to material within the minimum gap, or in opposite directions to apply shear stresses to the material within this gap. A third element may be incorporated within the chamber to provide heat transfer and distributive mixing to the stressed material.

Abstract: A method of producing a foundation bed (1) for a granulator mill includes the steps that the foundation bed is cast from a plastic- or concrete based casting material in a mold (13) manufactured from thin sheet metal, the mold being given surfaces (16) for cooperation with a granulator mill housing (2) with high precision. In order to avoid after-treatment of the surfaces (16) of the mold intended for cooperation with the granulator mill housing, these surfaces are clamped during the casting process against a common, configurationally stable clamping member.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for modifying particle size of powders in closed items, comprising the exposure of said items to external electric field of suitable parameters. The degree of agglomeration of the particles can be increased or decreased. Applications to neutralization of harmful powders in mails, to dry agglomeration and to volatilization of powders in food industry and in pharmacology are described.

Abstract: The present invention is Micro-erosion Recovery System for separating recyclable tire materials (rubber, steel and fiber) and complying with quality standards governing the use of recovered tire materials. It is also a highly efficient apparatus and system for producing large amounts of high quality crumb rubber and steel.

Abstract: A process for obtaining rubber pellets from used tires is described, the process comprises a series of steps which take account of the structure of a tire, and among which are mainly: collecting used tires having a tread and lateral faces, in which the tread includes an inner layer and an outer layer; and each lateral face includes a flange at the inner edge thereof; separating the tread from the lateral faces; cutting the tread transversely through the inner layer and the outer layer in order to form a strip from the tread; cutting the strip in order to form pellets therefrom; detaching the flange from the separated lateral faces; and cutting the flange-less lateral faces in order to form pellets therefrom.

Abstract: One aspect is an ultrasonic crusher including a pipe system having at least one elutriator. A pump is configured to pump a slurry through the pipe system and the at least one elutriator. A first ultrasound sonotrode is configured proximate to the at least one elutriator.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing hydroxyalkylcellulose microparticles, the method including generating a pulse shock wave, and supplying a hydroxyalkylcellulose aqueous solution to the pulse shock wave generation region, thereby crushing and drying the hydroxyalkylcellulose aqueous solution. According to the production method, hydroxyalkylcellulose microparticles having a volume-average particle size of at least 0.1 ?m but less than 15 ?m are obtained. By mixing the hydroxyalkylcellulose microparticles with a principal agent and subjecting the resulting mixture to a tablet compression, a solid preparation having excellent tensile strength and disintegration properties can be obtained.

Abstract: A process of forming a semiconductive carbon nanotube structure includes imposing energy on a mixture that contains metallic carbon nanotubes and semiconductive carbon nanotubes under conditions to cause the metallic carbon nanotubes to be digested or to decompose so that they may be separated away from the semiconductive carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reusing material by pulsed power, according to which a series of electrical discharges are generated between at least two electrodes in a reactor receiving an ambient liquid as well as the materials to he reused, characterized in that the series of said electrical discharges produce, as a result of the energy, the frequency of the electrical discharges, as well as, as a result of the voltage between the electrodes and the switching time, a mechanical shockwave which propagates over the materials to be processed in the reactor, and in that, during the implementation of said method, said ambient liquid is cooled by a continuous or carousel cooling system, said method enabling the production of nanoparticles.

Abstract: A device and method to provide a simplified wash process and controlled disintegration of a soft substance, such as a gel, are disclosed. In use, a block of, e.g., gel matrix is placed in the device and washed with a series of appropriate solutions to remove interfering contaminants. The washing liquid is removed through a deformable narrow opening in the bottom of the device, and, subsequently, the gel block is extruded through the deformable narrow opening, by a physical force, such as centrifugal force, a vacuum or positive pressure from a gas or liquid, etc., resulting in fragmentation of the gel block into a series of particles of similar size. The fragmentation of the gel results from shear forces exerted onto the gel block traveling through the deformable narrow opening in the device.